Naoma Jones

Naoma B. Jones of Ignacio passed away on April 21, 2021 at Mercy Hospice House in Durango. Naoma was born on November 16, 1929 to Mr and Mrs J.B. Belarde of Pagosa Springs at the old Mercy Hospital in Durango. Her early school years were spent at a Catholic school and she transferred to the Pagosa Springs public school from 4th to 8th grade. Naoma then attended a Catholic boarding school through her high school years.

In 1951 she married James J. Jones at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Pagosa Springs and together they had two sons, Juvie and Jamie. Naoma also graduated Adams State College in 1951 and became a school teacher. She taught for 34 years in Pagosa Springs, Brighton and Durango, spending the last 20 years of her teaching career at Florida Mesa and Riverview Elementary Schools.

Naoma and Jim moved to the family ranch, near Ignacio, in 1983. Upon retirement in 1987, they would venture to Arizona and Texas in the wintertime.

Naoma was very active at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, where she served on the finance and building committees. She supervised all the building expansions, including the father's rectory. She sang and played the piano for the church choir and was a member of the Carmelita's Ladies Group.

Naoma proudly served the Ignacio Library Board of Directors for 20 years. She was the president of the board when the new library was built.

Naoma was preceeded in death by her husband of 67 years, Jim; son Jamie; two brothers and two sisters. She is survived by: her children Juvie and Loretta Jones of Ignacio and Jean Jones of Fairplay; her grandchildren: Loren, Brian, Adam, Theresa and Lyndsay and five great grandchildren.

Services for Naoma will be held at a later date.